Test application for validity

Describe test application for Face validity & Content validity. Under what condition would they be used? What are the strenghts & weaknesses of each?

Solution Preview

A common use for face validity would be in the construction of a test or experiment. A researcher who wishes to test something in an experiment would develop a test and ask other researchers to review the test to help him/her determine whether or not it is ethical and whether or not the test will measure what the developer believes it will measure. For example a researcher who wanted to test the vocabulary skills of young children might suggest showing children flashcards with vocabulary terms and asking them to define each one. Some people may agree that the test has face validity since it seems to measure what it is supposed to measure- vocabulary skills. Face validity is commonly used to assess whether or not something looks like it measures what it is supposed to measure. Another example of when it may be considered would be during personality assessments done by employers who are screening job applicants for their company. A perspective employee may appear to a be a good fit for the company if he/she seems to possess the traits that the employer is looking for in his/her workers. Face validity is often seen as a common sense approach to validity that is often important in convincing laypeople to allow the use of a test regardless of whether or not a more advanced assessment is available. If respondents to a particular test knows what information researchers are looking for, they can use the context to help interpret the questions and give more accurate and ...

Solution Summary

A description of the test application for face validity and content validity is provided in this solution. The strengths and weaknesses of each are also discussed.